The Georgia Department of Education released the most recent numbers of high school graduation rates for the state's high schools Tuesday.

Though a few schools have not gotten their numbers in, the preliminary rate stands at 79.2%, for a state average for 2016.

That is up four tenths of a percent from 2015, when the rate was 78.8%

Rates are up dramatically from 2014, when it was only 72.5%.

"Do we still have a lot of work to do? Absolutely. But we are confident that in Dougherty County we don't have failing schools. We have opportunities to change students lives and that is what we are doing," said J. D. Sumner of the DCSS.

2016 Rates

SCHOOL

CLASS SIZE

GRADUATES

PERCENT

Albany High School

202

171

84.7

Monroe High School

303

250

82.5

Dougherty High School

228

165

72.4

Westover High School

317

274

86.4

This is the sixth year Georgia has calculated the graduation rate using the adjusted cohort rate, which is now required by the U.S. Department of Education.

2015 Rates

SCHOOL

CLASS SIZE

GRADUATES

PERCENT

Albany High

196

155

79.1

Monroe High

240

202

84.2

Dougherty High

217

154

71.0

Westover High

282

261

92.6

Lee Co. High

458

399

87.1

Worth Co. High

232

177

76.3

"The 2016 graduation rate shows our schools continue to make progress by offering students an education that is relevant, keeping more students in school and on a path to a better quality of life," State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. "As part of VISION 2020, we have a goal of exceeding the national average graduation rate by the year 2020, ensuring that more students will receive a meaningful high school diploma that prepares them for a successful and productive future."